In conjunction with University of Adelaide, the AusIMM, RESA and SACOME are collaborating to assist students find work experience opportunities.

This page is focused on matching mining engineering students to work experience placement opportunities that fulfil the University’s requirements to graduate.
Students will find a list of possible work placements from a range of companies; these placements will vary depending on the time of year and current ability of companies to place students.

To be considered students will need to submit an application to the specific company using the process described by those companies. Each company will then determine, in line with its own criteria and process, candidates for interview and/or work placements.

RESA took part in AusIMM’s Adelaide University Student Chapter Student Meets Industry Night on March 23. The evening function was a great opportunity to share RESA’s part in industry with students and build connections with those moving into the industry.Was great to see several students sign up to the Hot Rubble mailing list and social channels after the event.

A skills shortage is emerging in the Australian mining industry, according to recruitment company, Hays.

In its latest quarterly update, Hays reported that renewed optimism in the Australian mining market and improved sales prices were helping increase vacancy activity.

However, Hays added that certain skills shortages are emerging again, “since mass redundancies and the uncertainty of previous years drove much of the blue collar workforce into alternative industries closer to home, where many were satisfied to trade reduced wages for improved lifestyles.”

This situation is particularly evident in locations such as North Queensland, according to Hays, where workers were expected to work on drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) rosters.

“It may be challenging to entice them back,” Hays reported.

“As a result, some employers are now considering candidates with no mining experience. This is expected to become more prevalent in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

However, that is a view being seriously challenged in hi-tech steel fabricating factory just south of Brisbane. Having put “artificially intelligent” welding and cutting equipment to work, Smart Steel Systems chief executive Chis Brugeaud said he was now able to bring back jobs “onshore” and reverse the trend of laying off people as technology improves.

As many people would know, it can be extremely difficult getting a job interview, let alone an offer. As a third year university student studying human resources, I knew it was about time to start getting some work experience behind me. I began applying for some general office administration work as I figured it would not only be a great way to get my foot in the door but provide me with viable exposure to an office environment. I was eager to start work in a professional field and enhance my technology skills, communication skills and organisational ability.

Months passed and I had attempted all the traditional job hunting methods from online applications to handing out resumes and even assistance from job seeking firms, but nothing. It seemed companies heavily favour practical work experience for these roles which obviously proved unlucky for me.
So I realised that I needed to take on a different approach. Clearly updating my resume and hitting the send button was just not working for me. After getting advice from other people and doing some research, I came across three other alternatives, which have proven to be very helpful for my situation. It seemed that there are a number of options that most job candidates aren’t going:

1. Networking
It is becoming apparent that the #1 best way to get a job is by networking. It can be as simple as asking family or friends if they know places that are hiring, if they know people who are in a position to hire, they can put in a good word for you. It would be useful to get to know as many people who that are working in your current field and the one you hope to get into. Networking enables a door-opening introduction that your resume and application simply cannot do.

2. Direct contact
Direct contact via telephone or email will enable an advantage over competition. If you aren’t having any success finding a job then you have nothing to lose if you pick up the phone, and call and introduce yourself to the manager. Even if you are directed to apply through the website, having made direct contact with the hiring manager can be impressive and as a result may move your application up to the top.

3. Offer to work for free
Without previous experience, working for free is an effective way to boost employability. It enables the opportunity to make contacts, get the experience necessary, demonstrate skills and abilities, as well as allow you to make a substantial contribution to an organisation.

At this point, I have been given the opportunity to do work experience at RESA. This role has enabled me to put into practice what I’ve been studying at university and challenge me with real life scenarios. RESA has involved me in projects focusing on organisational and workforce development for the resources sector. It has been a real eye opener and each task has required me to challenge my skills and abilities in new and unfamiliar situations. I have had opportunities to work independently and with the team and understand their role within the organisation. Work experience is not only beneficial for future career prospects but has enabled me to be involved and further understand the HR industry and its many facets.

All in all, I am more certain now that a role in human resources is the career path I would like to continue. Being in competition with candidates which may already have substantial HR experience makes it a difficult prospect. The best way to demonstrate dedication is to work at it and go in different directions. The benefits of work experience are clear, it increases confidence and self-esteem, as well as provides opportunities to identify and develop relevant skills, explore specialisations and establish networks. It is definitely worth going the extra mile and is just what you need to stand out and get noticed.

The South Australian resources sector is eagerly anticipating the approval of approximately 40 projects in the advanced development stage. Over the next 16 years, 40 advanced minerals projects are anticipated to be granted approval. More than 36,366 new jobs will be created in both the construction and production phases, this will more than double current mining employment in South Australia between 2014 and 2030.

There is a need to ensure that appropriately skilled and job-ready people are in sufficient supply to meet the projected demands now and until 2030. It is imperative to understand that future workforce demand for the South Australian resources sector will come from these projects. The type of training and skills required to meet the workforce needs of these projects may change over the years. As mining technology advances and new processes are created, future skill and workforce requirements for these sites will be shaped.

Advanced mining projects such as Carrapateena, Central Eyre Iron Project, Hillside, Razorback and Arrium’s expansion on the Eyre Peninsula will require many skilled, technical, trade and professional employees in the near future. Check out where these projects are located in South Australia here.

This is great news for regional cities such as Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Broken Hill (in NSW), as companies prefer to source local employees to fill the skills demand once these mines are in construction and production. Whyalla is working hard to position itself as “South Australia’s Mining Services Hub”, a key centre for the processing and export of mineral resources, as a service centre for supporting industries and for training and skilling the future workforce of the region.

The future skills needs for the 40 advanced minerals projects in South Australia is explored in depth through RESA’s newly released “South Australian Future Mining Workforce Report 2014 – 2030”. This report contains results showing year by year employment growth in five categories: semi-skilled, skilled operator, trade and technical, professional and administrative support. This full colour, comprehensive 46 page report is a first ever release and contains information vital for anyone in a planning or research role. Click here to purchase this report.

Careers and the journey to that “ultimate job” are not as clear cut as they used to be. Our parents and grandparents are a part of a generation that was able to remain with an employer for their entire working careers. This is not usually the case anymore, for many reasons. Some of them should be your own, in that you want to have a variety of experiences, across a variety of areas that make your niche skills, in engineering as an example, highly attractive to employers, thus making you a well-regarded candidate in any job interview. Employers are also starting to look for some diversity in work related experiences, as this will bring strength to their own projects.

Times are tight in the job market in Australia, with more people looking for work the interview process is getting more competitive. There are things you can do that might make a potential employee stand out from the rest when it comes to employment on site. Even though you might be qualified for the role, as a mining engineer for example, there are a few extra things you can do to stand out from the crowd:

Do you have any training in OHWS? It could be worth considering enhancing your resume in this area. Working safely and with good processes is of high importance to the Resources sector.

Do you like working with others and have a record of working within your community? Make sure this is highlighted in your resume, as it shows that you will fit in living and working in a mine site environment.

Are you prepared to undertake a full medical and regular drug/alcohol testing- a “Fit for work” test? These are part of everyday procedure onsite, an unwillingness to undergo these regular checks will affect your success in this environment.

Have you done all these things and are still having trouble breaking into the jobs market? There are a few other options to consider getting your foot in the door;

Field services roles, though not requiring a degree level training, can give you good work experience and demonstrate that you can work within the shift structure of the resources sector, as well as in isolated environments.

Considering roles interstate and coming home when you’ve gained the usual 2-5 year “experience” that many roles require.

Additional training, such as OHWS, Project Management, First Aid and/or some licences, such as Heavy Rigid etc.

There are more than 100 careers in mining, for information on these and great tips on how to get your start in a mining career, head to the Careers Table or to Lifestyle for more information.

So, you’ve found an ad for your ideal job. Where do you start in updating your resumé?

In most instances, your resume is the first introduction the company or recruiter will have to you. It’s your chance to tell the reader why you’re suitable for the role and what you can bring to the company. Your resume is a marketing document – studies have found that the average time the decision-maker reads a resume before allocating to the ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘maybe’ pile is less than two minutes! With this in mind, here are some general resume development guidelines to help with format and content.

Keep plenty of white space in the document – this allows the reader to easily work through the information

Use 11 point font (10 point at a very minimum), otherwise the reader will need a magnifying glass. On the other hand, much bigger than 12 point font can distract from the message you’re trying to get across

Use a sans serif font like Arial, Calibri or Tahoma. Anything fancier is very distracting

Avoid colour – black and white is just fine. Too much colour or pictures can seem gimmicky

Keep the document fairly brief, between two and four pages should be the target

Don’t include sensitive or personal information such as a photo or your date of birth, marital status, number of dependents or health status

Use bullet points to break up the information. Having paragraphs full of information makes it more difficult for the reader to take in

Present your work history in reverse chronological order (most recent job first) and you only need to go back 10-15 years. If you have had a long working history, you don’t need to address your early roles, unless it’s very relevant to the role you’re applying for

Include details of your tickets, licences and site inductions. Don’t take these as givens. The first person who reads your resume may not be completely familiar with your line of work so you need to be very specific

Unless the job ad specifically asks for them, keep your referees as ‘available on request’. This allows you to choose the referees who can provide the information that best matches the role and it also gives you a chance to give them warning prior to the phone call!

What will make my resume stand out?

I’m often asked “What will make my resume stand out?” Here are my top tips for a really competitive resume:

Include a short summary at the very start of your resume. This should introduce you, the areas you’ve specialised in and your key skills. Try for four or five bullet points

For each role you include in your resume, add both responsibilities and achievements. Your achievements can include special skills/knowledge that you’ve developed, projects you’ve worked on and targets met or exceeded. Achievements should be as specific as possible. Including achievements is a great way to make your resume more competitive

Tailor each application to suit the requirements of the job you’re applying for. These requirements are easily found in a job ad or position description. A hiring manager or recruiter can very easily pick applications that have been submitted by candidates who have not gone to the effort of tailoring their application. In short, not a good look! Use theinformation from the ad or position description as a checklist to ensure that the information is included in your resume

Always attach a cover letter to accompany your resume. Rather than being a repetition of what’s in your resume, it explains why you’re interested in the role/company and the specific skills that you have that match with the role requirements. Again this needs to be tailored

Once you’ve drafted your resume and cover letter, double check them for spelling and grammar. There’s no quicker way to turn off a hiring manager or recruiter than submitting an application with mistakes. If spelling and grammar aren’t your strengths, give your draft to someone who is good at spotting errors.

Good luck!

Therese Lardner is also the Manager, Professional Services with LHH Qld. For more great career, relationship and parenting advice for resource employees and families, visit the Mining Family Matters website www.miningfm.com.au.